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, Patented Ian. 24', I899. R. 0. STEBBINS.

T E N T.

(Application filed Dec. 31, 1897.;

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(No Model.)

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No. 6l8,367.

Patented Jan. 24, I899. R. 0. STEBBINS. w

T E N T.

(Application filed Dec 31, 18973 2 SheetsSheet 2.

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0 W/Pu w u g z m w. mm a a w u NW NW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROSWELL O. STEBBINS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

T E N T SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,367, dated January 24, 1899.

' Application filed December 31, 1897. Serial No. 664,860. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROsWELL O. STEBBINs, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tents; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to tents, and particularly to articles of this class which are adapt-v ed to be transported from place to place, and to be frequently set up and taken down; and some of the objects of the invention are to provide such a tent which will be simple and cheap in construction and at the same time complete in itselfthat is, not requiring auxiliary means for setting up the same-and also to provide a tent which can be readily and quickly set up and taken down and rolled into a small and compact mass for transporta tion.

A further object is to provide atent having a dark or shaded upper portion and a transparent lower portion, so that the eyes of the occupant will not be subjected to the intense glare of light occasioned when the entire tent is constructed of transparent material, and yet a sufficient quantity of light will be admitted through the lower portion of the tent.

Another object is to produce a tent having an integrally-formed bottom or floor-cloth of waterproof or other material, and also provide an auxiliary portion or vestibule upon the tent to prevent the entrance of drafts of cold air or the admission of insects into the tent proper; furthermore, to dispense with the numerous poles and timbers required to set up a tent ofthe ordinary construction; and with these and other objects in view the invention consists, substantially, of the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical central section of my improved tent. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3isa top plan View of the tent set up, and Fig. 4is a perspective View of the tent in position.

light and durable.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the referencenumeral 1 designates a tent constructed in accordance with my improvements, which may be made of any desired material, but preferably pegamoid, as this material is peculiarly adapted for the purpose, being very The tent may be of any preferred form or shape required for the peculiar purposes for which it may be used. However, I prefer the construction described and shown, for all of the space inclosed by the walls of the tent can be utilized.

In practice I prefer to construct the upper or sloping portion of the tent of dark-colored been demonstrated by actual practice and by the indorsement of army men, for soldiers frequently suspend a sheet of dark-colored or non-transparent material from the ridgepole of their tents to lessen the intense glare within the tent caused by the refraction of the rays of outside light upon the White and transparent upper or sloping portion of the tent.

My improved tent preferably consists of a bottom or floor-cloth 2, approximately square in form, provided with an extension 3, formed on or connected with one side thereof, and attached to the outer edges of the floor-cloth, by stitching or in any suitable manner, or formed integrally therewith, are four side portions or walls 4:, which may be made in separate parts, and, if desired, the walls 4 may be formed of a plurality of strips or sections 5, connected by an overlapped flat seam 6, and when the walls are so. constructed the eyes or openings 7 for the guy ropes are formed in the seam 6 to afiord additional strength along the line of strain caused by the pull of said ropes. The meeting edges of the floor-cloth and the walls are preferably bound, as shown at S, and the rear wall is preferably provided with an opening 9, of any suitable size or shape, for ventilation or observation, above which is secured a portiere flap or cover 10 to close the same when desired.

The upper or sloping portion of the tent consists, preferably, of four portions or walls 11, also desirably formed of a plurality of parts or sections united by a fiat overlapping seam, and the walls 11 are approximately of the form of an equilateral triangle; but they may be of any other form or shape; and the apex of the walls 11 is provided with an opening 12 to receive the center pole 13, as will be understood; but this center pole may be dispensed with and the tent supported from above by a rope. Around the apex of the walls 11 is secured a hood or canopy 13, adapted to cover the ventilating-openings 14E, surrounding the apex, and thus prevent the admission of rain or snow within the tent and at the same time afford ventilation for the upper part of the tent, the part most needing ventilation, and by means of the contracting cords or ropes 15 and the cords 15 for lowering the hood or canopy passing through said openings said canopy may be raised or lowered like an umbrella. The side portions or walls 4 are preferably connected with the walls 11 in such a manner as to form a horizontal flange or rib 16, provided with eyes or holes 7 to receive the guy-ropes 17, which are secured to pegs or stones in the usual manner.

In the front wall of the tent is formed an oblong opening 18 to serve as a door, above which is secured a portiere flap or cover 19 to close said opening when desired. Upon the extension 3 of the floor-cloth and inclosing the opening 19 is constructed the auxiliary portion or vestibule 20, preferably consisting of two approximately square side portions 21, a top portion 22, and a front portion 23, in which is formed an entrance-opening 24, adapted to be closed by a portiere flap or cover 25, as before described, and the free corners of said vestibule are provided with guy-ropes 26 and 27, adapted to be respectively connected with stakes secured in the ground at each side of the vestibule.

The vestibule of my improved tent is designed to prevent the cold air from entering the tent proper when the occupant leaves or enters the tent. As in the former case,the outside fiap 25 is raised, and as soon as the person has entered the vestibule this flap is allowed to fall and cover the exterior opening 24, thus excluding the outside air. Then the inner fiap 19 is raised and the person enters the tent proper, but without admitting a blast or draft of outside air into the tent proper, as would otherwise occur if the tent proper opened directly into the open air. This fea ture is especially desirable where the tent is used in cold climates, for the cold blast of outside air Which is driven into the tent whenever any one enters or leaves the same lowers the temperature within the tent and chills the occupants of the same, whereas by my improved construction these objectionable features are avoided.

By connecting the floor-cloth to the tent, as shown, delay and inconvenience are avoided in setting up and taking down the tent, and the whole can be rolled up into one compact mass for transportation, and by making the center pole of detachable or telescoping sections it can be taken apart and inclosed with? in the tent material, when the latter is rolled up for transportation,thereby dispensing with the necessity and inconvenience of carrying or securing poles before the tent can be set up and occupied.

Travelers and soldiers have always experienced much difficulty and inconvenience in carrying or securing the necessary poles or material from which to construct such poles, and in some localities it is impossible to secure material to support a tent.

The manner of setting up and taking down my improved tent will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following explanation thereof.

The tent is first opened up and the center pole raised. Then the guy-ropes are secured to stakes or stones about the tent, and the same is ready for occupancy; or, if preferred, the guy-ropes may be temporarily secured before the tent is, raised, and may be subsequently tightened and permanently secured.

I do not desire to confine myself to the specific construction, combination, and arrangement of parts herein shown and described, and I therefore reserve the right to make all such changes in and modifications of the same as come within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, anddesire to secure by Letters Pat ent, is-' 1. A tent having a vestibule provided with a floor-cloth or bottom consisting of an extension of the bottom or floor-cloth of the tent.

2. A tent provided with an observation or ventilation and an entrance opening, both provided with a closing flap or cover, a floored vestibule inclosing said entrance opening, having an entrance-opening provided with a closing flap or cover.

3. A tent comprising in its construction a vestibule-portiere, a portiere for the tent proper leading from said vestibule and a ventilation-portiere upon the side wall of the tent and in alinement with the vestibule and tentportiere, for insuring thorough ventilation of the tent.

4. A tent having ventilation-openings near its apex, contracting and lowering cords passing through said openings and a hood or canopy constructed and arranged to protect and expose said openings and to be controlled by said cords.

5. A tent provided with an observation or ventilation and entrance opening, both having a closing flap or cover, a vestibule inclosing said entrance-opening, and also provided with an entrance-opening having a closing flap or cover and a bottom or floor-cloth connected with said vestibule and constituting an extension of the bottom or the floor-cloth of the tent.

6. A tent provided with a vestibule having an entrance-opening registering with the entrance-opening of the tent, closing flaps or covers for said openings, and a bottom or floor-cloth connected with the vestibule and constituting an extension of the floor-cloth of the tent.

7. A tent provided with flexible top and side Walls, made of the same material, said top wall being colored opaque and said side walls being translucent for the purpose specified.

8. A tent provided with an entrance and observation or ventilation opening, both having a closing flap or cover, a hood or canopy secured above the ventilating-holes in the top of the tent, means for operating said hood or canopy to cover or uncover said holes, a vestibule inclosing the entrance-opening of the tent and having an entranceopening provided with a closing flap or cover and a floorcloth or bottom connected with the vestibule and constituting an extension of the floorcloth of the tent. v

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROSWELL O. STEBBINS. Witnesses:

CHARLES S. ROGERS, ELBERT B. BOLTON. 

